Jon Jones is set to defend his UFC heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 on November 16, 2024, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This highly-anticipated matchup comes after a series of delays, including a torn pectoral muscle that forced Jones to withdraw from their originally scheduled bout at UFC 295 in November 2023.
Jones, regarded as one of the greatest fighters in MMA history, boasts an impressive record of 27 wins, 1 loss, and 1 no-contest. He claimed the vacant heavyweight title in March 2023 by defeating Ciryl Gane via first-round submission, marking his return to the octagon after a three-year hiatus. Before that, he was the UFC lightweight champion before vacating the title.
Meanwhile, Miocic, a two-time heavyweight champion with a record of 20-4, has not fought since losing to Francis Ngannou in March 2021. His last victory was against Daniel Cormier in August 2020.
The stakes are high for both fighters. This could be a defining moment for Jones to cement his status as the greatest pound-for-pound fighter or for Miocic to make a glorious comeback and reclaim his status as the heavyweight king. UFC CEO Dana White has indicated that the outcome of this fight could lead to a unification bout against interim champion Tom Aspinall, should Jones emerge victorious.
Both fighters are nearing the end of their careers, with Jones at 37 and Miocic at 42. There are speculations about retirement for both, with Jones even confirming that this may be his last fight. The match is not just about the title; it represents a pivotal chapter in the careers of two legends of the sport.
But that is not the only exciting thing about UFC 309, as it was also confirmed that Michael Chandler will face former lightweight champion, Charles Oliviera that same night. Chandler was supposed to have a moment in the ring some months ago against Conor McGregor, but the latter pulled out at the last minute, and for a while, it was believed the fight would be given another date this year.
Last week, however, Dana White confirmed that McGregor would not be fighting any time this year, which may have given Chandler the freedom to agree to a November fight.
